Expelled Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi's sex scandal with a junior employee loomed large on the last day of the federation's tense special congress yesterday.
Women leaders blasted the organisation's top brass, accusing them of not protecting women.
Teacher union Sadtu's KwaZulu-Natal secretary Nomarashiya Caluza said it was disturbing that delegates had not even raised the issue throughout the congress.
"I am very disappointed at our structure called the central executive committee (CEC). We started this congress yesterday and we are about to close. I have never heard even a single person standing firm in advancing gender struggles in relation to what has happened at Cosatu House.
"If we have a Cosatu that is serving as a home to all workers, it must include the women we have employed," she said.
Caluza said the woman was exploited by Vavi despite claims to be fighting exploitation. She said union leaders were also bosses to those employed by the unions.
"They want to know what we are saying about their plight as workers when they are abused by ourselves as bosses," said Caluza.
Kate Matlou of transport union Satawu said that, as women, they had failed to do justice for the employee who had sex with Vavi by not coming out in her defence.
She said that as a member of the CEC she was ashamed they kept quiet on the matter.
Nehawu echoed Satawu and Sadtu's sentiments that Vavi's sex scandal was not political but a misconduct that should have been acted on.
Meanwhile, Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini said members could not be slaves of another union, indirectly referring to Numsa. Battle lines were drawn during the plenary session yesterday as unions used their speaking time to argue for or against Numsa and Vavi's expulsion.
At the end of the conference, Dlamini took a swipe at those who said the federation would collapse or split. "Eighteen Cosatu affiliates participated very freely in the debates based on our discussion documents and additional issues delegates raised."
He said they would campaign against e-tolls, Telkom retrenchments and assist MTN workers in their strike.
Yesterday, former Cosatu spokesman Patrick Craven, who now works with Vavi and Numsa, released a statement in which he gave an indication that they were ready to form a new federation.
Vavi sex scandal stalks congress
Expelled Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi's sex scandal with a junior employee loomed large on the last day of the federation's tense special congress yesterday.
Women leaders blasted the organisation's top brass, accusing them of not protecting women.
Teacher union Sadtu's KwaZulu-Natal secretary Nomarashiya Caluza said it was disturbing that delegates had not even raised the issue throughout the congress.
"I am very disappointed at our structure called the central executive committee (CEC). We started this congress yesterday and we are about to close. I have never heard even a single person standing firm in advancing gender struggles in relation to what has happened at Cosatu House.
"If we have a Cosatu that is serving as a home to all workers, it must include the women we have employed," she said.
Caluza said the woman was exploited by Vavi despite claims to be fighting exploitation. She said union leaders were also bosses to those employed by the unions.
"They want to know what we are saying about their plight as workers when they are abused by ourselves as bosses," said Caluza.
Kate Matlou of transport union Satawu said that, as women, they had failed to do justice for the employee who had sex with Vavi by not coming out in her defence.
She said that as a member of the CEC she was ashamed they kept quiet on the matter.
Nehawu echoed Satawu and Sadtu's sentiments that Vavi's sex scandal was not political but a misconduct that should have been acted on.
Meanwhile, Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini said members could not be slaves of another union, indirectly referring to Numsa. Battle lines were drawn during the plenary session yesterday as unions used their speaking time to argue for or against Numsa and Vavi's expulsion.
At the end of the conference, Dlamini took a swipe at those who said the federation would collapse or split. "Eighteen Cosatu affiliates participated very freely in the debates based on our discussion documents and additional issues delegates raised."
He said they would campaign against e-tolls, Telkom retrenchments and assist MTN workers in their strike.
Yesterday, former Cosatu spokesman Patrick Craven, who now works with Vavi and Numsa, released a statement in which he gave an indication that they were ready to form a new federation.
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